Emilia Clarke and Peter Dinklage on the Tyrion-Daenerys dynamic

Although it was overshadowed by the epic battle scene at the end of the episode, last week’s “Hardhome” featured another watershed moment for the series: a conversation between Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), something the show had been building towards all season. Looking back on it, I’m still impressed by how episode writers David Benioff and Dan Weiss refused to sensationalize the scene. The latter half of Season 5 has been marked by giant dramatic gestures, a pattern that looks like it will continue into the finale, but this was a quiet moment, as two of the show’s most important characters sized each other up and made the first inroads into what could become a beautiful friendship.

With Daenerys having left Meereen for Drogon-knows-where, her developing relationship with Tyrion has been put on hold, but we’re all expecting it to pick up again sooner or later. In the meantime, both Clarke and Dinklage sat down for a free-wheeling interview with Entertainment Weekly about what their relationship means for the show.

“I think Dany could learn how to get what she wants from Tyrion,” Clarke said after EW asked both actors what their character stood to gain out of this new partnership. “Also I think Dany could learn how to crack a joke, maybe. She could learn to stop taking things so seriously and stop just gazing into the distance at some point.”

Whether she’s gazing over the edge of her balcony from atop the Great Pyramid in Meereen, gazing up at the sky above Daznak’s Pit, or staring at the back of her throne room as she’s dismissing Jorah Mormont from her presence, Dany does tend to gaze into the distance a lot. Then again, maybe she’s just thinking of Westeros, a place it’ll be a lot easier to conquer with a smooth operator like Tyrion at her side.

For his part, Dinklage thinks Tyrion stands to learn a few things from Dany too.

Tyrion could learn how to be a leader. I don’t think he’s good at that. He’s smart, but it’s always in someone else’s ear. I don’t know if he’s well suited for leadership. He wants the same experience he had [advising] Joffrey, but with a qualified person—and that’s what she is. He’s slowly realizing that she’s a perfect combination for him.

It’s just a shame that Daenerys had to jet off on Drogon before the two of them could really start learning from each other. With her gone, Tyrion may have to step into that leadership role sooner than expected. And while I’m wary of labeling any relationship on Game of Thrones as “perfect,” these two do seem very well suited for each other. Daenerys is idealistic enough to inspire Tyrion to do his best work, while Tyrion is practical enough to find ways to make her dreams a reality.

Also, the entire interview is worth reading if for no other reason than because Clarke and Dinklage are clearly buddies who enjoy cracking wise. Just look at their responses after EW asked them which of their characters was likely to die first.

DINKLAGE: I think it’s going to be like [quickly] you-go-I-go.

CLARKE: Like lemmings. We’d just jump off a cliff like Thelma and Louise. Or we just kill each other. That’d be amazing.

DINKLAGE: I’m kind of serious. I think we’ll go out in a blaze of glory—boom, boom, Bonnie and Clyde.

If Daenerys and Tyrion have a rapport half as amusing as the one between Clarke and Dinklage, Season 6 will be fantastic.

• Published on 06/11/2015 at 3:36 PM CDT
• Last updated on 06/11/2015 at 3:42 PM CDT